RESEARCH DEGREES
Advance your unstoppable career at UniSA
Join Australia’s University of Enterprise. Our research degree candidates solve real world problems, partner with end-users of research, and develop skills for research excellence with career relevance.
As a research candidate at UniSA you will create new knowledge and become an expert in your field by exploring a research question that interests you.
We offer a research environment with highly experienced and engaged supervisors, extensive connections to industry, government and communities, and a focus on addressing globally significant issues. According to Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA, 2018), 100% of our assessed detailed fields of research was rated at, or above, world-class. You can undertake research in a variety of ways – through a PhD, Masters by Research, or a Professional Doctorate.
UniSA is committed to ensuring that research degree candidates experience excellent and contemporary research training and that they graduate with a skill set that improves their employment prospects. We have also transformed the PhD (tPhD) to increase opportunities for PhD candidates to enhance, develop and practice their research and career skills.
We encourage you to connect with our researchers and explore the possibilities for continuing your pathway into research.
Hear from our researchers
Some of our unstoppable researchers and PhD candidates talk about undertaking a research degree at UniSA.
STEM research degrees
Professor Emily Hilder from the Future Industries Institute shares why you should study a higher degree by research in STEM at UniSA.
Social science research degrees
Professor Siobhan Banks from the Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre shares why UniSA is the perfect place to study a research degree in social sciences.
Arts research degrees
Professor Simon Biggs from the Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments – IVE – shares why you should study a higher degree in arts, architecture or design at UniSA.
Health research degrees
Associate Professor Michael Samuel from the Centre for Cancer Biology talks about where a research degree in health at UniSA can take you.
Business research degrees
Professor Rachel Kennedy from the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science, talks about the benefits of studying a business or marketing research degree at UniSA.
What our PhD candidates and graduates are saying
"Probably my favourite experience during my PhD program, was travelling to London and doing a six month internship with business and news broadcaster, CNBC. I was also given other opportunities to travel, to present at conferences and deliver seminars to the Institute's corporate sponsors. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have grown and expanded my professional skill set whilst undertaking a research degree. I believe this has made me a well-rounded researcher and also a competitive candidate for marketing research positions in industry."
"My PhD with the Australian Track Cycling Team is focused on using the Critical Power model. This model decribes the maximal work capacity of elite athletes through aerobic and anearobic contributions to exercise. As part of my research I worked directly alongside the head coach of the Australian team, providing sport science support in areas of physiology, biomechancis and performance analysis."
Megan investigated the ways in which culture and practices in a secondary school can foster a students' sense of belonging as a foundation for their learning. "I really enjoyed working with my research participants and being able to tell their story to some degree. Plus, my PhD also helped me gain confidence in myself and my abilities – it's been amazing to see how much I've grown during my studies."
Hear from some of our PhD graduates
Health research degrees
Former health PhD students share why you should study a higher degree by research at UniSA.
STEM research degrees
Dr Joe O'Leary discusses his PhD experience at UniSA.
How to apply
Follow our seven-step guide through the process of preparing your application to maximise your chances of success.
Contact us
For any queries about undertaking a research degree at the University of South Australia please contact the Graduate Research Admissions team. We can provide you with further information or assist you in finding a supervisor in your area of research interest.
Find out more about discipline specific information for the research degree you are interested in.
Graduate Research Admissions
p: +61 8 8302 5880
e: research.degrees@unisa.edu.au
Location
Level 2, 101 Currie Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Australia
Postal address
GPO Box 2471
Adelaide SA 5001
Australia
Download our research degrees brochure (.pdf, 2.5MB)